Roz Brizendine's Story

A “sleep coach” changed my life

After retiring in 2000, my husband was going through a major health issue and I found that I wasn’t sleeping well. It wasn’t sleep apnea but I had severe episodes of insomnia. I had a lot of anxiety at bedtime wondering … am I going to sleep or not? I was frantic to sleep.

I had seen Dr. Payne at St. Cloud Hospital Sleep Center who suggested I see the psychologist there, Dr. Jennifer Miller. A week before my appointment with her in spring 2014, she asked me to complete a sleep diary. When we met she went over it and gave me things to do. She explained sleep patterns, and what interrupts sleep. She educated me and gave me tips. I saw her three times over a month. I’m taking less medication and I have a lot more energy now. I have energy to go biking and walking. She knows exactly what she is doing. Dr. Miller is wonderful. CentraCare as a whole is head and shoulders above any other organization we’ve been involved with.

For 14 years I struggled. It’s insanity, doing the same thing over again and again and expecting a different outcome. It’s powerful when you know you can go to bed and sleep. Anytime you can sleep better, you just feel better — it affects your whole day, your whole life.

~ Rosalind (Roz) Brizendine, Clear Lake